Dorothy Gaye Henley Jones, 89, of Paducah, Kentucky, passed away on November 8, 2016 In Hospice care at Forest Manor Nursing Home in Northport, Alabama. She stayed in Paducah, her home of some 65 years, as long as she could to be near friends, extended family and familiar surroundings. She was a resident at Parkview Nursing Home but moved shortly before her death to be near her sons in Tuscaloosa.
Mrs. Jones was born on February 9, 1927 in McDowell County, West Virginia to Andy Delano Henley and Maude White Henley where Andy was a Mine Inspector. Graduating from Pulaski High School in Pulaski, Virginia, she became one of the “Atomic Women”, cold warriors working for Union Carbide at the Uranium Enrichment plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and later at the Paducah, Kentucky plant until 1955 when she married and became a full-time homemaker and mother. She was a member from childhood of the First Christian Church and served in the church at Paducah as an Elder and Board Member and enjoyed the fellowship of her Sunday School class and the CWF-Group 1 until she was unable to attend in person, and then enjoyed their continued support in their cards and visits.
She loved large gatherings during the holidays with her siblings and their families. She kept many lifelong friendships with her “sisters” in the Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority in Paducah, most especially her close friend Phyllis Ham. She enjoyed playing golf with her friends and family at Rolling Hills Country Club and Westwood Country Club and competing in local couples and women’s tournaments. Dorothy made beautiful things, whether in the kitchen, decorating her home, or in her artwork. She was an accomplished and respected painter in water color and oil, twice awarded Best in Show in the Paducah Art Guild Exhibition. She also sculpted in clay, plaster and wood. A mural of hers can still be seen at First Christian Church.
Mrs. Jones is survived by two sons, John Robert Jones and Stanley Foster Jones (Karen,) both currently of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, one brother David Henley (Nancy) of Roanoke, VA, several nieces and nephews, grandchildren, and a lot of others who loved her as their stand-in ‘Aunt Dot.’
Mrs. Jones was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 56 years, James Robert Jones, one son Adam Henley Jones and her siblings June Henley, Virginia Depew, Harry Henley, Francis Capizzano, Betty Powers, and Bill Henley.
A private memorial service will be held for family with burial beside her husband in Paris, TN.
Our special thanks for the kind help of Milner and Or Funeral Home in Paducah and the services of Tuscaloosa Memorial Garden and Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, please make expressions of sympathy in the form of a donation in her name to the Western Kentucky Easter Seal Center, St. Jude Children’s’ Hospital, or Hospice of West Alabama.